The Hindu : Front Page : New Assembly complex to have elements of Valluvar Kottam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

New Assembly complex to have elements of Valluvar Kottam

R.K. Radhakrishnan and A. Srivathsan

It will blend modern and traditional features
Karunanidhi sought a change in design of dome

CHENNAI: The new Assembly complex planned for Tamil Nadu will have a mix of both modern and traditional Tamil architecture, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Wednesday.

“There will be elements from Valluvar Kottam and it will also look modern,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.

From the outside it will have a futuristic look, to signify that the State is staying abreast of the times. At the same time, there will be a courtyard, an extensive use of traditional Tamil Kolam art and elements from the Valluvar Kottam such as the dome, he said.

Berlin-based German architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner had won the competition for designing Tamil Nadu’s Legislative Assembly building.

Design

The design chosen had a contemporary architectural language that significantly departed from the early civic buildings such as Valluvar Kottam. The German architects claim on their website that the design is derived from traditional shapes and it echoes the structural features of Dravidian temple complexes. The internal plan has five round courtyards, of which three would house the Assembly Hall, the Legislative Assembly Chamber and the Convention Hall. The large outer courtyard would be the citizen’s forum.

Speaking to The Hindu after sitting through a nearly hour-long presentation from the architects of the new Assembly complex, the Chief Minister said that some modifications had been carried out to the earlier plan to keep in line with the Tamil traditional architecture.

The team had made a presentation about a month ago. Then, the Chief Minister, whose first stint in the Cabinet was as Public Works Minister, wanted a change in the design of the dome proposed for the complex.

Initially, it was similar to a structure in Malaysia and the Chief Minister wanted this modified so that it would look like the dome of a temple car – similar to the dome at Valluvar Kottam.

Apart from incorporating architectural elements to make the structure more Dravidian, there is no change in the area from the first design presented, officials said. The Assembly building will be spread over an area of 1,60,000 square metres.

The Chief Minister lays the foundation stone for the structure on Thursday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page